Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have been undertaking a programme of work on gun and knife crime and gangs issues for some time. On 12 February this year we doubled the maximum sentence for possession of a knife in a public place or school without good reason from two to four years; from 6 April we are implementing a new offence of using someone to mind a weapon; and in May we are giving school staff powers to search pupils for weapons. We will be raising the age at which someone can purchase a knife from 16 to 18 and banning the sale, manufacture and importation of realistic imitation firearms later this year. And we are also clarifying the law to ensure that the minimum sentence for unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm of five years' imprisonment applies to 18 to 20 year-olds as well as to people aged 21 or over.
	In March this year we also began a consultation on banning samurai swords and other weapons due to their use in violent crime. Last year, we held a five-week national knife amnesty which resulted in around 90,000 knives and other items being handed in. Alongside the amnesty, police forces undertook robust enforcement action together with educating young people to challenge the knife-carrying mindset.
	We are also supporting community work on gun and knife crime. Since May 2004, the Connected Fund has provided grants for small community groups. So far, the fund has supported 300 local groups working on gun crime, knife crime and gangs issues, and allocated about £1.25m. A further round of funding focusing specifically on gangs issues is currently under way.
	As announced at the Prime Minister's summit on 22 February, our ongoing work will focus on three areas:
	Policing—ensuring the police are equipped to tackle gun crime and gangs; Powers—giving the police and courts the powers to deal with offenders; andprevention—empowering communities to take action themselves to prevent gun crime and gang culture, and offering support to parents to challenge their children's behaviour.
	The plan includes a review of the relevant legislation on guns, gangs and knives, which will include looking at the sentencing of juveniles.
	All our work in this area is being driven forward by the Home Secretary's round table group on guns, gangs and knives which draws its membership from the police, government departments and community organisations.

Lord Vinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by Lord Davies of Oldham on 20 March (WA 183), whether thenet imbalance of United Kingdom official transactions with the European Union, taking the average over the calendar years 2003, 2004 and 2005, was in excess of £3 billion per year.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Following the signature of the Council of Europe convention on 23 March, we are now beginning to develop details on how implementation will be taken forward.
	It will inevitably take some time to move from signature to ratification of the convention. Unlike some of our Council of Europe colleagues the UK will not ratify the convention until all changes to domestic legislation, processes and guidance are in place to ensure that we-fully comply with its terms. Officials are currently investigating what changes will be required particularly in relation to Articles 4, 10, 12, 13 and 14 of the convention.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: All arrivals are able to see a medical professional regardless of the time they arrive, as 24 hour medical cover has been in place at the establishment since 22 September 2002. The following table shows the number of young people received at Huntercombe in the past six months after 2100 hours, who were too late to undergo a full first-night interview only.
	
		
			 Month Number of young people arriving after 2100 hrs 
			 October 2006 9 
			 November 2006 13 
			 December 2006 21 
			 January 2007 11 
			 February 2007 4 
			 March 2007 18 
			 Total 76